Extended ESSA deadline will allow more time for public input

The
U.S. Department of Education has extended its submission deadline for states’
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plans, allowing Delaware to adjust its plan
submission schedule and provide more time for public input and plan
development.

Delaware
now will submit its final plan on April 3. Other dates leading up to that
submission also have been adjusted and are reflected below:

·
January 9: Release of second draft of plan

·
February
28: Release of final draft of plan

·
April
3: Submission of final plan to U.S. Department of Education for approval

The
public has several on-going opportunities to provide input on the plan:

·
Community
conversations: Three of the seven sessions of this second round of public input
sessions remain. The next is Thursday night in Newark followed by two sessions
for Spanish-speaking community members in Georgetown and Wilmington on December
14 and December 20, respectively. Find more information on these and the
previous sessions here.

·
Online
surveys: Members of the public also may submit their feedback via three online
surveys available here. This is the second round of online
surveys.

·
Discussion
groups: Stakeholders are serving on two on-going discussion groups, one
focusing on school supports and the second on measures and reporting. These are
public meetings, and public comment is available at each session. The next
session is tonight. Find more information, including minutes from past meetings
here.

·
Governor’s
ESSA Advisory Committee: Governor Jack Markell’s advisory committee
also continues to meeting. These public sessions also include public comment.
The next session is Jan. 11.